Tube connecting structure of endoscope

Abstract

In a tube connecting structure of an endoscope, a fluid supply tube is connected to a gas supply tube and a liquid supply tube via a tube joint. The tube joint is arranged at the inside of an insertion part of the endoscope, and is constructed of a main tube and a branch tube. The branch tube is provided next to the main tube, while an end of the branch tube protrudes to be longer than an end of the main tube.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A tube connecting structure which is arranged at an insertion part of an endoscope, comprising: 
       a tube joint which has, at a first side, a first end to which a fluid supply tube is connected, and has, at a second side, a second end to which a gas supply tube is connected and a third end to which a liquid supply tube is connected,  
       wherein a position at which the gas supply tube is connected to the second end and a position at which the liquid supply tube is connected to the third end differ in a longitudinal direction of the tube joint, and  
       wherein a space defined between the second end and the third end is smaller than a total thickness, which is a sum of a thickness of the gas supply tube and a thickness of the liquid supply tube.  
     
     
       2. A tube connecting structure which is arranged at an insertion part of an endoscope, comprising: 
       a tube joint which has, at a first side, a first end to which a fluid supply tube is connected, and has, at a second side, a second end to which a gas supply tube is connected and a third end to which a liquid supply tube is connected,  
       wherein a first connecting position where the gas supply tube is fitted over the second end and a second connecting position where the liquid supply tube is fitted over the third end are offset in a longitudinal direction of the tube joint so that the first connecting position and the second connecting position do not overlap.  
     
     
       3. The tube connecting structure as defined in  claim 2 , wherein a space defined between the second end and the third end is smaller than a total thickness, which is a sum of a thickness of the gas supply tube and a thickness of the liquid supply tube.